Peter Millington… First Big Beat Reunion – 14th November 1987 – Hastings Pier – what a great event! The surprise guests included Cliff Bennett being backed by a group comprising of Ray Fenwick, Pete Shaw, Chris Sayer, Pete Head and others from the show.

Chris Giles… And a brilliant night was had by me and hubby

Peter Millington… 1963 was the hey day of the big names playing the Pier – this “Big Beat” reunion was 24 years later. We’ve now moved on another 28 years – b****y frightening! A night I shall never forget, playing with my long term friends in the Confederates and being on the stage with all these legends, Wow! lump in the throat stuff.

Mick O’Dowd… I was there. I thought The Searchers looked too young to be any of originals but they were.

Pete Prescott… I was at the first show. Brilliant gig. Fantastic line up. Packed. Crowd loved it. Some came in their original old clothes (the ones who could still fit into them !) Cliff Bennett was great ! The organisers didn’t know if many would show up so there were only a few people behind the bar. Very difficult to get a drink, so a lot of people were sober. lots of dancing. Fun night. The next one was packed. Lots of people behind the bar. Lots of drunk people. Not such a good night. Obviously just my opinion. I often watch people get plastered and pay less attention to what they came for and stagger and shout their way through the night. the music was great on that night as well.

Pete Millington… I played with Confederate friends at all 3 “Big Beat Reunions” but the first in 1987 was the best

Robert Searle… Great stuff

Mark Hardwick… I Believe i have a 45 of The Talismen (whispering bells) given to me by a relative of theirs 30ish years ago. I’ve found the record on CREZENT label 1978 Whispering bells b/w Sounds in our minds. taken from LP album Sounds in our minds (Lightning records) b/w was written by M.Swift and B Baker. the wife was a lady cleaner from Hastings College, Archery Rd can’t remember her name, hope this helps.

Pete Millington… The Talismen broke up in 1966/67 if not earlier. Without the wife’s name and her husband’s surname we can’t do any verification. Let me know if you find any names that might help in validating this mystery